Women & Leadership Links

Misrata now boasts a half-dozen aid and development groups run by women, who have channeled organizational skills honed during the three-month siege into rebuilding post-Qaddafi Libya. In concert with women across the country, Gargoum wants to see more women in the new government and enactment of legislation that would protect women from violence, as well as guarantee them access to justice, health care and psychological support. She, like many others, is prepared to fight for those rights. “We have a brain, we can think for ourselves, we can speak out,” Gargoum told me. “We can go to the streets without fear.”

Now, having been denied a political voice in Libya’s conservative, male-dominated society, the female veterans are determined to leverage their wartime activism and sacrifices into greater clout. They’re forming private aid agencies, agitating for a role in the country’s nascent political system and voicing demands in the newly liberated press. “Women want what is due to them,” says Radio Libya’s Ghandour.

A high-level meeting to discuss women’s representation in decision-making concluded Thursday in Accra, Ghana, with participants committing themselves to supporting women’s participation and leadership in politics. The Commonwealth Africa Regional Colloquium: Women Leaders as Agents of Change from 27 to 29 March 2012 was jointly organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Gender Section and the Government of Ghana. Delegates, including ministers, senior officials, policy-makers and regional development organisations from 16 Commonwealth Africa member states explored how to improve women’s representation in politics.

In her opening remarks, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba questioned the low level of representation of women in leadership in Africa, asking what overt and covert barriers there were and what Africans should do to catch up with the world in this regard.

“Some of those challenges must certainly include limited access to financial resources, exclusion from networks, chauvinism and roles stereotyping, violence and corruption, and, generally political party processes and practices that undervalue women’s skills and competencies,” she said.

World Women MPs attending the 126th Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Kampala are calling for equal representation in key leadership positions saying most of the influential positions are taken over by men.

Speaking during a debate on women in politics at Imperial Royale Hotel Kampala over the weekend, the women delegates said there was need to have women appointed in key ministerial posts such as defense, finance, and health among other crucial positions to influence the development of their respective countries.

“Women are mindful of the welfare and peace of the people so we need to push for more women leaders both nationally and globally,” said Monica Green, a Swedish legislator.

According to a recent report by the IPU, women had only been given priority on issues to do with social affairs, family, children, youth elderly, and women affairs, leaving out other sectors that women can ably manage.

The women expressed concern that most of the influential positions at both national and local government levels are being dominated by men at the expense of women who equally have the skills and capability to run these offices.

World Women MPs attending the 126th Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Kampala are calling for equal representation in key leadership positions saying most of the influential positions are taken over by men.Speaking during a debate on women in politics at Imperial Royale Hotel Kampala over the weekend, the women delegates said there was need to have women appointed in key ministerial posts such as defense, finance, and health among other crucial positions to influence the development of their respective countries.

“Women are mindful of the welfare and peace of the people so we need to push for more women leaders both nationally and globally,” said Monica Green, a Swedish legislator.

According to a recent report by the IPU, women had only been given priority on issues to do with social affairs, family, children, youth elderly, and women affairs, leaving out other sectors that women can ably manage.

The women expressed concern that most of the influential positions at both national and local government levels are being dominated by men at the expense of women who equally have the skills and capability to run these offices.

Mattel has just launched a new Barbie who is running for President as part of their “I Can Be…” Barbie collection. It’s a collaboration with The White House Project, a great organization dedicated to getting more women to run for office. So I reallywant to like this. But I can’t.

Barbie I Can Be… dolls and accessories let girls explore different roles and try on fabulous careers, including President of the United States! This inspiring and stylish Barbie doll wears a smart suit in her signature pink, of course! She accessorizes with a sophisticated pearl necklace and earrings and proudly sports a B Party campaign button, representing girls nationwide. Vote for Barbie!

I don’t want my daughter growing up to think that careers are something “fabulous” you try on like an outfit. I don’t want her to think that only someone who looks like a Barbie doll can be President, or be successful. And I don’t want young American girls’ dreams of running for office to be part of a consumerist ploy that reduces political participation to a cutesy doll.

Cast your votes for the leaders, artists, innovators, icons and heroes you think are the most influential people in the world. Official voting ends on Friday, April 6, and the poll winner will be included in the TIME 100 issue. The complete TIME 100 list will be chosen by our editors and revealed on TIME.com on Tuesday, April 17